The influence of early attachment

The role of the IWM

The idea that a schema forms templates for future relationships based on our relationship with our primary attachment figure.

Hazan and Shaver (1987): aim

to test the hypothesis that later relationships can be predicted by IWM.

Hazan and Shaver (1987): Procedure

• 620 replies to ‘love quiz’

• Section 1: respondents’ current or most important relationship

• Section 2: assessed general love experiences eg number of partners

• Section 3: assessed attachment type asking respondents to choose which of three statements best described their feelings.

Hazan and Shaver (1987): Findings

• Answers categorised into the 3 attachment types

• 56% respondents securely attached – reported good and longer lasting romance

• 25% insecure avoidant – revealed jealousy and fear of intimacy

• 19% insecure resistant

Hazan and Shaver (1987): Conclusion

Patterns of attachment behaviour are reflected in romantic relationships

Behaviours influenced by the IWM: relationships in childhood: bullying

Bullying

• Myron-Wilson and Smith – 196 children aged 7-11 from London

• Secure children less likely to be involved in bullying

• Insecure-avoidant most likely to be victims

• Insecure resistant most likely to be bullies

Behaviours influenced by the IWM: relationships in adulthood: romance

• McCarthy (1999) 40 adult women assessed as infants to establish attachment type

• Securely attach - best adult friendships and romantic relationships

• Insecure-resistant - problems maintaining friendships

• Insecure-avoidant – intimacy struggles

Behaviours influenced by the IWM: relationships in adulthood: parenting

Internal working models also affect the child’s ability to parent their own child.

We tend to base our parenting style on our internal working model.

Bailey et al – 99 mothers. Assessed using SS. Majority of women had the same attachment classification both to their own babies and their own mothers.

Evaluation: supporting evidence check over this

Research into the influence of early attachment on later relationships suggests that our first attachment experiences form an internal working model that shapes how we relate to others in adulthood. McCarthy (1999) conducted a study of 40 adult women whose attachment types had been assessed in infancy. She found that those who were securely attached had the most successful adult friendships and romantic relationships. In contrast, individuals who had been insecure-resistant as infants experienced problems maintaining friendships, while those with an insecure-avoidant attachment type struggled with intimacy in romantic relationships. These findings support Bowlby’s idea that early attachment experiences provide a template for later relationships, influencing expectations and behaviours in adulthood.

Evaluation: validity of retrospective studies

• retrospective studies are not longitudinal

• this reduces validity as they rely on honesty of pps and it is difficult to establish whether childhood or adult attachments are being measured

• most measures of early attachment therefore might be confounded by other factors

Evaluation: socially sensitivity

• Point: Research assumes that secure (type B) attachment leads to the healthiest outcomes — but this can be socially sensitive because it imposes a narrow view of “good” relationships.

• Explain: In some cultures or family contexts, independence or emotional restraint (which might look like avoidant attachment) is adaptive, not pathological.

• Evidence: Van IJzendoorn & Kroonenberg (1988) found cross-cultural differences in attachment types — e.g. Japanese infants often appear resistant due to cultural norms about separation, not poor parenting.

• Evaluation: Labelling non-type B attachments as “bad” risks cultural bias and stereotyping, rather than reflecting genuine developmental risk.